South Carolina Football: Former Gamecock defensive lineman signs new NFL contract
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina football has put a number of defensive linemen in the NFL in recent years. Since 2000, the Gamecocks have had 16 defensive linemen drafted and had even more players make it to the League after being undrafted.
Former Gamecock defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth has signed a new deal with the Carolina Panthers. The news was broken on Twitter by Stallworth’s agent Brett Tessler.
The Carolina Panthers have become a South Carolina football reunion squad as with the Panthers, Stallworth will be reunited with former Gamecock teammates Hayden Hurst, Shi Smith, Damiere Byrd, and Josh Vann. Gamecock cornerback Jaycee Horn (who joined the South Carolina football program the year after Stallworth graduated) is also with the Carolina Panthers.
Stallworth had played previously with the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans (two stints). His move to the Panthers reunites him with head coach Frank Reich who the big defensive tackle played for while in Indianapolis.
Stallworth had signed a deal earlier this offseason to remain with the Houston Texans but was cut later this spring.
With the Panthers, Stallworth will look to compete for a depth role at defensive tackle. Stallworth’s best role has always been as a block-eating run stuffer, so Carolina taking a flyer on a run-defending tackle makes sense considering their inability to get off the field on 3rd and short a season ago.
If Stallworth can produce at the level he did in college, the Panthers assuredly will improve in short-run situations.
While in garnet and black, Stallworth was a stabilizing force at defensive tackle. #90 never filled up the stat sheet, but he was an integral member of Will Muschamp’s Gamecock defenses who freed up linebackers Skai Moore, TJ Brunson, and Bryson Allen-Williams to make plays. Stallworth’s 31 starts at defensive tackle are among the most at the position in South Carolina football history.
One of Stallworth’s best plays as a Gamecock is linked below.